A major production facility located on the island was shut down following Maria’s destruction.

Now, hospitals across the country are becoming creative when treating patients in need of IV bags.

“We’ve been able to substitute giving medicines through a syringe instead of through an IV bag,” said Dr. Paul Biddinger, Director of the Center for Disaster Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. “We’ve been encouraging patients to hydrate orally, meaning drink fluid in a prescribed way.”

Manual hydration takes about four times longer than an IV, and it’s only given to patients under a doctor’s orders.

The shortage makes this year’s flu season especially difficult, since the illness can cause dehydration.

The FDA says the shortage will likely improve over the next few weeks, but that “the production situation in Puerto Rico remains fragile.”

The manufacturing plant is operating again, but IV bag supplies are not expected to be fully replenished until April.